Dupuytren contracture is condition of unknown cause and origin in which the thin tissue under the skin (fascia) of the palm becomes thicker than normal, with a lump on the palm of hand and sometimes cords that make it difficult or impossible to extend one or more fingers.

Well, first of all, there are about 12 health problems that can explain why an unexplained palm lump (lump in the palm of the hand) would appear for most people. Some conditions are more common than others, but by far the most common is Dupuytren contracture.

Conditions that cause a palm lump or nodule on palm of the hand:

Callus formation – local or generalized skin thickening generally due to manual labor

Fracture – broken bone of the hand protrudes toward palm

Ganglion – localized swelling of soft tissue around a joint as a result of strenuous activity (weight lifter, waiter, guitarist, brick layer), repetitive use of a joint, heavy and frequent vibration, rheumatoid arthritis or synovitis

Hematoma – a localized collection of blood under the skin, usually clotted, as a result of local injury

Hand injury – trauma to the hand that causes inflammation and swelling, either recent or old Infection – a localized collection of red blood cells, white blood cells and fluid related to the immune response to the presence of bacteria or virus, caused swelling, pain, heat, etc.

Leprosy – an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, characterized by disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage, and progressive debilitation, with a very long incubation time making it difficult to determine when and how it was contracted

Malignancy – refers to a collection of cancerous cells that have the ability to spread to other sites in the body (metastasize) or to invade and destroy tissues, tending to have fast, uncontrolled growth due to changes in their genetic makeup; types are basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma

Malunion of fracture – a chronic condition of a fracture that did not heal during the time in which healing would normally take place, and now consists of two or more bone broken end-pieces that are incapable of normal union Osteoarthritis – degenerative joint disease involving the cartilage of the body as an ongoing, progressive disease that causes the joints to break down over time

Rheumatoid arthritis – an autoimmune disease of various joints of the body that presents as an ongoing, progressive disease with episodes of painful inflammation

Scar tissue – a lingering mark left on the skin after a surface injury, formed during wound healing

Dupuytren contracture – non-cancerous thickening of the fascia under the palm, of undetermined cause, resulting in eventual flexion contracture of the tissue of one or more fingers

When you visit your medical doctor to determine the cause of the lump in the palm of the hand, this is the list of possible causes that will be considered.

Since there is no known cause and no standard medical treatment for the lump in the palm of the hand associated with Dupuytren contracture, it is generally considered a reasonable option to attempt to assist a natural recovery using Alternative Medicine methods for Dupuytren treatment. This is explained in great detail at natural Dupuytren treatment.